Biden officially ends US COVID-19 emergency status

The bill terminates the national emergency declared by former President Donald Trump on March 13, 2020, and a public health emergency issued that January, reported United Press International (UPI).

The president had previously planned to end the national and public health emergencies on May 11, making that announcement in January.

The bill passed through the Senate with a bipartisan 68-23 vote after a largely Republican-backed vote in the House.

The Biden administration initially opposed ending the emergency declarations early, citing "significant impacts" on the government and healthcare system in a statement to the bill's sponsors on Jan 30.

"First, an abrupt end to the emergency declarations would create wide-ranging chaos and uncertainty throughout the health care system -- for states, for hospitals, and doctors' offices, and, most importantly, for tens of millions of Americans," the statement said.

The statement also emphasises that passing the bill would end Title 42, which the Biden administration attempted to end last fall before being blocked by a federal judge in the US District Court for the District of Columbia.

Both declarations provide flexibility for the federal government and government healthcare programmes.

Medicare and Medicaid recipients did not face certain charges related to testing for COVID-19, including at-home testing, for example. Some Medicare and Medicaid waivers will end with the public health declaration, while others will stay in place for another six months.

Healthcare facilities also were granted waivers under the public-health declaration, giving them flexibility over patient care and capacity limits. Many of these waivers will be deemed unnecessary and come to an end.